MLAs Triumph Over TDs In Gambling Awareness Match

A group of Northern Ireland MLAs has actually triumphed over deputies from the Republic's Dail in a football match to raise awareness about gambling-related harm.


The TDs and MLAs were joined by football, rugby and GAA gamers to unify for The Big Step five-a-side competition which was arranged to highlight the direct exposure of youths to gambling advertising in sport.


Philip McGuigan, Robbie Butler, Stephen Dunne and former gaelic footballer Justin McNulty were among MLAs representing the Assembly while TDs Aidan Farrelly, Ruairi O Murchu, Darren O'Rourke and Feighan lined out on behalf of the Oireachtas.


They were joined by players from The Big Step campaign, the Professional Footballers Associations for Northern Ireland and Ireland, the Gaelic Players Association and Rugby Players Ireland.


UUP MLA Robbie Butler, Sinn Fein TD Darren O ´ Rourke, DUP MLA Stephen Dunne, Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan, SDLP MLA Justin McNulty, Sinn Fein TD Joanna Byrne, Sinn Fein MLA Philip McGuigan, Fine Gael TD Brian Brennan (front row) Cool FM chief press reporter James Gould, Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly, Finn McGrath from the All Party Group Secretariat, and Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu (Liam McBurney/PA)


The occasion was likewise supported by the Northern Ireland Assembly's All Party Group (APG) on Reducing Harm Related to Gambling.


Mr McGuigan, chairman of the APG on Reducing Harm Related to Gambling, said: "Everyone has a gambling establishment in their pocket through their mobile phones. It is more vital than ever that we highlight the risks of gambling advertising in soccer."


The Sinn Fein MLA, who has actually spoken about his own problems with gambling dependency in the past, included: "The English Premier League is hugely popular here, and the betting logos on t-shirts, arena billboards and TV adverts are ruthless.


"This requires to be significantly decreased to address the general public health gaming epidemic we currently deal with."


Finn McGrath (centre left) from All Party Group Secretariat in action against Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu (centre right) (Liam McBurney/PA)


A recent cross-border report by Maynooth University and Ulster University showed that youths across the island of Ireland are exposed to "extremely high levels of betting marketing" through televised sports programmes and social networks content, much of which emanates from Great Britain.


The Big Step is a project run by Gambling With Lives to end all gambling advertising and sponsorship in football.


Organisers stated Northern Ireland is now the only jurisdiction among the UK and the Republic of Ireland without updated gaming legislation in the web period.


Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan (left) in action against SDLP MLA Justin McNulty (Liam McBurney/PA)


They keep in mind how legislation was introduced in 2015 to develop a gaming regulative authority in the Republic of Ireland and impose strict controls on gambling advertising, including a broadcasting watershed.


Members of the APG have actually written to Sport and Media Secretary Lisa Nandy to urgently present comparable limitations on betting marketing.


Talking to the PA news firm, Mr Butler commemorated the MLA team's 6-1 success over the TDs.


Sinn Fein MLA Philip McGuigan shoots during the match (Liam McBurney/PA)


On the subject of gaming, he stated the APG was not a "prohibitionist" group but included it was necessary to highlight the threats connected with the practice, including addiction, poverty, poor psychological health and suicide.


The deputy leader of the UUP, who pulled a hamstring during a match, said the APG desired to send a cumulative message to Westminster that gambling marketing was a "severe problem" to be dealt with.


"Gambling is among those addictive matters we need to see better legislation around," he said.


Mr Feighan, the captain of the TDs, said the island of Ireland has "difficulties" with betting.


The Fine Gael TD stated that while he bets "a bit" himself, there was a need to do more to protect individuals "from the scourge of gaming".


Michael Carvill, president of Professional Football Players Northern Ireland, said: "We believe there need to be a reasonable reduction in betting promotion within the video game to help protect players, fans, and particularly youths from possible harm."


One male who had actually been personally impacted by gambling addiction said Friday's tournament was a "great" effort.


Declan Cregan, a training and engagement officer for Chapter One, stated his love of sport had actually been ruined by betting in the past.


After starting with a ₤ 1 bet at the age of 16, he said "things really rapidly got a hell of a lot even worse" to the point his last bet ten years later on was for ₤ 4,500.


"It was an extremely challenging 10 years for me, but regrettably not simply for me - it impacted numerous parts of my life and people in my life. My mental health was affected too."


Mr Cregan, who now works with a body focused on reducing the damage of gambling in society, stated: "Sport would be a much safer place if betting marketing was tossed out."


He said he would support a "blanket restriction" on betting marketing comparable to the watershed in the Republic of Ireland.